Pep Talk: Caring Less About The Opinions of Others.
I’m coming out of a season of hearing a lot of things said about me and people I love. Some true, some not, some a little true, some insanely off base. But that doesn’t matter, the point being, people talked. It sucked. I let it weigh on me way more than I should have.
During that time, I had a friend say to me, almost in an annoyed way, “You have GOT to stop letting mean things that people say ruin your day.” She said it in the same way someone would say, “You have GOT to stop coming into work late.” Like, just do it.”
And while I would love to be all like, SO I DID! It didn’t really go down that way. But I tried a little harder to care a little less. And I’ve made really great progress! I still care way too much, I still get my feelings hurt way too easily, and honestly, I still cry over some of the things I’ve heard people say. BUT. I (mostly) don’t let it ruin my days anymore, and I don’t dwell on it (as much).
Fast forward to this week: I’m brainstorming blog content and instagram ideas, and I have this idea. My first thought was: I’m so excited! My second thought was, .02 seconds later, was: Oh, I wonder what people will say about that.
What?!
These opinions I’m worried about – they’re not even real yet. They may not even happen. And STILL, I worried about them.
Why the heck am I letting an opinion I haven’t even heard yet keep me from doing something I want to do? Who knows. But I’m not going to let it continue.
Join me in caring less about the opinions of others. They truly, truly do not matter. Because the opinions that matter, you don’t have to worry about – they’ll be given with love and support.
Don’t let maybe-possible-could be-opinions suffocate your creativity, your mark on this world, that thing you are building. You’re worth so much more than that. It breaks my heart to think of all the amazing things the world could be being deprived of simply because someone is worried about something that someone, somewhere, could possibly one day think. Let’s not do that. Let’s create and dream and love anyway, no matter what hypothetical opinion might one day be negative. It doesn’t matter. We’ve got stuff to build.
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I needed to hear this today! Just joined Insta last month and already thinking ‘what ifs’ instead of ‘this pic makes me happy, I’m posting it’.
I love that quote and at the end of the day you cannot make everyone happy. No matter how hard a person tries you will always get criticism or a throw away comment because not everyone can be happy for others. This has really been something that I battle to understand and in the past I’d spend far too much time caring about a negative or spiteful comment.
Have a great week!
So true!! I’m right there with you on working on understanding that. Thank you!!
You go, girl! It’s not easy to just straight up stop caring what other people think, but it’s important to take small steps to perhaps not care quite as much. YOU. DO. YOU. Sending hugs!
WHY SO HARD?!?!? I love you!!
This is SO hard for me and I was hoping I was getting better. I let it stop me often. Thanks for sharing this – I think you’re amazing and can’t wait to see the big things you do this year.
Same girl, same. I love you!!
If I could share one part of myself with everyone on earth, it would be this ability. Keep working toward it. Your entire life will open up
You are one of the people I admire the most when I think of this.
Um, you’d be doing the world a disservice to listen to the nay-sayers and NOT dream big. You are SO creative and kind and wonderfully you!! Don’t let anyone dampen that spirit! The world needs MORE Chelsea-y people, not less!
You are so kind! Thanks, friend!!
What other people think of you is none of your business. I have that written on my fridge. Thanks for sharing this! Hope it is life changing!
One of my favorite quotes! I probably need to have it hanging on my wall!
I wish this was an easy process, but it’s not. I’m working on it though and have been for years. Why do we let others opinion of ourselves weigh us down?!! Great post!
Right?! It’s so hard for me, but I’m working on because I know life is so much better that way.
My husband always says what other people think of you is none of your business. I love that. One of the reasons I fell in love with him. http://Www.Thecolorcollectiveblog.Com
I’ve been where you are and I’ve totally been where your friend is too. Great job on recognizing it and trying to do the hard work.
This is such a great post – thank you for sharing! It is so easy to let the opinions, and even potential opinions, of others get to you. Even if they never express or even have those opinions, just thinking that they may can really bring you down.